Delicacy facts for kids
A delicacy is a special kind of food. It is often rare or expensive. People in a certain culture or region think it is very desirable or unique. This is usually because it has unusual flavors or features. It might also be hard to find or cost a lot more than everyday foods.
What counts as a delicacy changes a lot. It depends on the country, local customs, and even the time period. For example, Flamingo tongue was a highly prized dish in ancient Rome. But people do not commonly eat it today. Lobsters were once seen as "poverty food" in North America. This changed in the mid-1800s. After that, they became a delicacy, just like in Europe. Some delicacies are only found in one culture. Examples include fugu in Japan or bird's nest soup in China. This soup is made from swiftlet nests. Another example is ant larvae, called escamoles, in Mexico.
Examples of Special Foods
- Abalone (Bao Yu/Awabi) – China; Japan
- Akutaq – Alaska, United States; Northern Canada; Siberia
- Alligator meat – Southern United States
- Alici, from the Gulf of Trieste near Barcola – Italy
- Biltong – Southern Africa
- Bird's nest soup – China
- Black sausage (Mustamakkara) – Finland
- Bottarga – Mediterranean Basin
- Caviar – Russia; Azerbaijan; Iran
- Cempedak – Indonesia; Malaysia; Southern Thailand
- Champagne – Champagne region of France
- Conpoy – China
- Droëwors – Southern Africa
- Durian – Borneo; Sumatra
- East Asian giant salamander – China; Japan
- Escamol – Mexico City, Mexico
- Escargot – France
- Filet mignon – France
- Foie gras – Périgord region of France
- Guinea pig – Bolivia; Colombia; Ecuador; Peru
- Haggis – Scotland
- Hákarl – Iceland
- Huitlacoche – Mexico
- Hutki Shira – Sylhet, Bangladesh
- Iberian ham (Jamón ibérico) – Spain; Portugal
- Ikizukuri – Japan
- Edible jellyfish – East Asia; Southeast Asia
- Karasumi – Japan; Taiwan
- Kiviak – Greenland
- Kobe beef – Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
- Kopi luwak – Indonesia
- Lobster – Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, United States; The Maritimes, Canada; Sabah, Malaysia
- Locust – Arabia; China; Israel; Jewish diaspora
- Matsusaka beef – Matsusaka and Mie Prefecture, Japan
- Mud Creeper – Malaysia; Vietnam
- Pickled cucumber – northern and eastern Europe
- Raw oysters – Malaysia; France; United States
- Quail eggs (including pickled quail eggs) – Brazil; Colombia; Denmark; Ecuador; Indonesia; Japan; Philippines; South Korea; Venezuela; Vietnam
- Scallops – Galicia, Spain; Japan; Taiwan
- Sea cucumber – East Asia; Southeast Asia
- Shiokara – Japan
- Snail caviar – France; Poland
- Surströmming – Sweden
- Truffle – Caucasus; Middle East; Southern Europe
- Tyrolean grey cheese – Austria
Images for kids
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A black Périgord truffle
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Wild Iranian Ossetra caviar
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Edible jellyfish prepared with sesame oil and chili sauce
See also
In Spanish: Manjar para niños
